Take the COWS test and see what you score, as long as you are very honest in your answers you'll know if you are in sufficient withdrawals. Are you under a doctor's care? I really recommend that you do this while under a doctor's care.

Wow Laurie thanks for the info and the link for the COWS test. Im in the same boat, waiting for the Methadone withdrawal to be serious and long enough before i take my first suboxone. Its only been about 24 hrs so i know i got a way to go yet. Thanks again and any wisdom or feedback would be much appreciated...

Laurie, as you can probably see from where i made several comments and responses to the various questions on this subject, but in case you didnt- yes I am under a drs care. and (not really sure about your second question) i was stabilized on a 50 mg dose of meth for about 1yr, and then did a slow reduction of 1 mg per wk until i reached 18. which is what i am withdrawling from now...

If you were down to 18mgs a day then you are ok to go to the Suboxone AFTER you have been in sufficient withdrawals using the COWS test. See the link above. Generally, that is 72 hours after your last dose of Suboxone, but best to take the test and score around a 24 before taking the first dose of Suboxone. Didn't your doctor give you instructions?

Just wanted to be sure that the doctor had explained the induction process, didn't want you to be blindly attempting this. Wanting to educate yourself all about the med is oh so important. Good luck and keep in touch,

Not only is it strongly suggested that a methadone patient be at 30 mgs or less to start suboxone AFTER at least a 72 wait from the last dose of methadone, but, subutex is usually used to help prevent precipitated withdrawal. If you are attempting this on your own, this is a difficult switch and it really can be much easier if you do involve a suboxone/subutex doctor in your treatment protocol. Methadone is a long acting opiate replacement and it slowly recedes from the brain. If you are at more than 30 mgs per day, you still could go into precip even if you wait 72 hours and start on subutex. You are in my Prayers. Pattishan